McLaren, Ferrari and Ecclestone Reaction

In a statement, McLaren have said that they expect the rules of F1 to
upheld consistantly and fairly.
"The more important the outcome of a race, the more important it is that
the rules are applied consistently and fairly in accordance with ...

In a statement, McLaren have said that they expect the rules of F1 to
upheld consistantly and fairly.

"The more important the outcome of a race, the more important it is that
the rules are applied consistently and fairly in accordance with the
procedures that have been strictly adhered to in the past. We sympathise
with Ferrari but this matter has to be put into a wider context." Said
the statement.

Mika Hakkinen said "I don't really like it. It is not the way to win a
title. It does not feel good to me.They won the race fair and square on
the track. But the team does not want me to talk about this until after
the hearing."

The McLaren line is a lot stronger than their initial public statements,
when Ron Dennis said "This is not a way to win a World Championship. It
is bad for the sport."

Irvine, meanwhile, has spoken on the exclusion.

"I hope the judges decide that the punishment was too heavy. I'm
convinced that, aside from the facts of what happened, the final
decision will take account of people's good faith"

"I can't believe that they are taking the points and the leadership of
the world championship away from me for something like that. The
punishment is too harsh compared to the crime. I'm relying on Ferrari's
ability to defend themselves. As a driver, I can't make any appeals. All
I can do is drive and say that the car was exactly the same as the one
at the Nurburgring. It seems impossible to me to lose a world
championship over a story like this. Everybody in Formula One knows that
things like these give you little or no advantage at all... it was an
oversight"

The President of the Italian Automobile Club, who will be defending
Ferrari at the appeal, Rosario Alessi, said "It's like being given a
life sentence in jail for a parking offence"

Michael Schumacher, meanwhile, was more circumspect: "I feel very sorry
for the team, because they did all that work for nothing. These things
happen. And anyway what could I do about it? It would all be very
different if, at Suzuka, I was going there to help the team try and win
the world championship."

Michael Schumacher's manager, Willi Weber, said "Ferrari is a team that
never had any infractions before. Perhaps the manufacturer of this part
made a mistake."

Jean Todt, meanwhile, has said he offered to put his head on the block
to Luca Di Montezemelo "I accept the blame, since I'm in charge of the
sporting management, I gave the chairman my full willingness to accept
any decision that he might see fit. He told me to concentrate on Japan"

Bernie Ecclestone has attacked the disqualification of Ferrari in
Malaysia.

"What happened in Malaysia is bad for the sport. I would like what the
public want - to see a great finish in Japan worldchampionship could be
decided by someone quite junior who has made a mistake in the factory."

Bernie Ecclestone, however, has no influence on the outcome of the
appeal.